The agent allegedly tried to locate a Canadian lawmaker’s family in Hong Kong in order to threaten them, according to a 2021 intelligence report, and Melanie Joly, Canada’s foreign minister, announced on Thursday that she is contemplating removing the official.
In a parliamentary committee meeting, Joly stated, “My deputy minister is currently meeting with and summoning the Chinese ambassador, and that’s also why we’re assessing different options, including the expulsion of diplomats.”
Joly was responding to a query from Michael Chong, a Conservative Party member of parliament who had been singled out in the intelligence assessment because he had supported a resolution in parliament that referred to China’s treatment of the Uyghur Muslim minority as genocide.
Why do you, minister, still let this diplomat to have an accredited status in our nation? said Chong.
The Globe and Mail newspaper in Canada said on Monday that China reportedly wanted to know details about Chong and his family in an attempt to “make an example” of him and “deter others from taking anti-PRC positions.” The story was refuted by the Chinese embassy in Toronto.
Accusing the spy agency of failing to inform him at the time, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed on Wednesday that he learned about the intelligence assessment through the newspaper.
However, Chong claimed on Thursday that the report had been sent to the Privy Council Office, which assists the prime minister and his Cabinet, in 2021, according to Trudeau’s own national security advisor.
China harshly rebuked Trudeau’s remarks late on Wednesday equating Chinese-produced lithium to slave labour and warned Canada it may face repercussions if it continued “denigrating maliciously” the human rights situation in China.
His statements ignored the truth and confused black with white. The Chinese Embassy in Ottawa released a statement in which it expressed its “strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition to this.”
Canada will undoubtedly suffer the repercussions if the Canadian side does not accept facts, put aside bias, and cease disparaging the human rights situation in China.
According to Trudeau’s office, there is nothing more to say about his remarks from last week.
